The Tumut and Adelong times 5 Nov 1929
CAR GOES OVER CUTTING A DROP 'OF 40 FEET. MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH. CAR TOTAL WRECK Mr. and Mrs. iR. L. Blakeney, of Tumut, 'were returning from East Blowering on Sunday afternoon about 5 o'clock, and on reaching the cutting between Brandy Mary's Flat and Oddy's Bridge, Mrs. Blakeney, who was driving, felt her wristlet watch slipping off, and asked Mr. Blakeney to steer while she adjus ted it. As Mr. Blakeney took the wheel the car swerved on some loose metal which had been knocked down from the side of the hill on to the road by travelling sheep, crashed bead-on through the protecting fence to the bottom, a sheer drop of about 40ft, somer saulting two orthree times before it finally settled down with its wheels in the air, a complete wreck. The only thing which appears to have saved Mrs. Blakeney from being hurled to the bottom was a fallen tree lying straight down. When the car struck this about 12 feet from the top it precipitated Mrs Blakeney out into a pocket in the ground which saved her from further des cent, she being on the driving side. But Mr. Blakeney, who was on the left side, was thrown to the bottom. They had a miraculous escape from being killed, for where the car went over there are rocks from top to bottom. Mr Blakeney was the most hurt, being cut about the face and bruised on the chest, arm and leg. Mrs. Blakeney received injuries to the body and a cut over the left eye, as she was wearing glas ses it is thought one of the lenses caused this incision. Mr. Blakeney, on getting up, and noticing his wife lying as if dead, scrambled up the embankment and ran down the road for assistance, waving his handker chief, calling out. At it happened there were a couple of picnic parties on Brandy Mary's Flat, and Mrs Harold Weeden, who first heard Mr. Blakeney's call for assistance, informed the others, who lost no time is rendering aid. Mr. Harold Weeden rushed them home, and Summoned the doctor who found that they were bruised and cut about, but no bones were broken. Yesterday morning both were doing well, and Mr.' Blakeney felt able to get about Both are still suffering from shock. |